Comelec Allows Mikey Arroyo to Represent Security Guards

Note: This is the son of Gloria Arroyo who shopped for wines at a luxurious Makati Mall while people were dying during the Ondoy tragedy.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified a big businessman who wished to speak for small entrepreneurs, but ruled that a wealthy political scion can represent marginalized security guards and tricycle drivers in the House of Representatives.

The Comelec has voted 4-2-1 to allow Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo to represent the party-list group Ang Galing Pinoy, but Election Chair Jose Melo said the poll body’s latest ruling and that on another party-list group, Ang Kasangga, were “contradictory.”

Election Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph and Armando Velasco—all members of the second division except for Yusoph—approved Arroyo’s assumption of office as the first nominee of a group that claims to speak for the guards and drivers.

Commissioners Gregorio Larrazabal and Rene Sarmiento of the first division dissented, saying a “yes” vote would be a betrayal of the party-list law.

Melo did not take part in the voting.

Asked on Tuesday if it would be dangerous for the Comelec to issue two conflicting decisions on party-list groups, he replied in the affirmative. He also said those opposed to the en banc ruling could seek a restraining order from the Supreme Court.

Militant groups are determined to block Arroyo, the eldest child of the former First Couple and a former representative of Pampanga, from again taking a seat in the House.

Through its secretary general Renato Reyes, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the Comelec ruling “is utterly despicable and truly destroys the essence of the party-list system.”

Reyes also said Arroyo’s presence at the opening of Congress on July 26 would “insult the entire Filipino people.”

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño, whose colleagues had earlier sought Arroyo’s disqualification as Ang Galing Pinoy nominee, said the Comelec ruling allowed those in power and in positions of influence to coopt the party-list system.

He said Bayan Muna would appeal the ruling before the high court.

Haresco’s case

Casiño wondered how Arroyo’s case differed from Ang Kasangga Rep. Teodorico Haresco, who was earlier disqualified by the Comelec on grounds that he does not belong to the underrepresented sector of microentrepreneurs that the group speaks for.

In Haresco’s case, Casiño noted, the Comelec said it was unfathomable that a big businessman like him would truly understand the plight of microentrepreneurs.

“The implication of the ruling is that now, multimillionaires and incumbent elected officials can run under the party-list system. This is an abomination that totally contradicts the letter and spirit of the party-list system and delivers it on a silver platter to the already rich and powerful sectors of society,” he said.

Melo declined to discuss the impact of the two rulings. The case of Ang Kasangga has yet to reach the commission en banc.

It may already be too late, but militant lawmakers have not given up on their disqualification case against Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and will raise their clamor at the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Sen. Franklin Drilon is also demanding the ouster of the four election commissioners who voted to give a congressional seat to Arroyo, who took his oath as member of the House of Representatives.

Ang Galing Pinoy lawyer Charlie Chua said Arroyo took his oath Wednesday in Manila and that his papers are now with the House secretary general.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello said he would file on Thursday an urgent motion in the Supreme Court to appeal the ruling of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to allow Arroyo to represent Ang Galing Pinoy, which claims to represent security guards, in the House of Representatives.

In its ruling, four election commissioners approved Arroyo’s assumption of office. Two commissioners dissented while Comelec Chair Jose Melo did not take part in the voting.

Drilon called for the resignation or impeachment of the four election commissioners who allowed Arroyo to represent Ang Galing Pinoy in the House.

“They should resign or be impeached for their brazen display of partisanship,” Drilon said, referring to Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph and Armando Velasco.

Drilon said the four election commissioners made such move apparently in “repayment of their appointment” to the poll body by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, mother of Mikey.

“They destroy the credibility of the most critical institution of democracy which is the Comelec and they are unfit to hold office,” he said.

Comelec Resolution Number 8807, RULES ON DISQUALIFICATION CASES AGAINST NOMINEES OF PARTY-LIST GROUPS / ORGANIZATIONS
PARTICIPATING IN THE MAY 10, 2010 AUTOMATED NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS, dated March 25, 2010

1.A natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
2.A registered voter;
3.A resident of the Philippines for a period of not less than one (1) year immediately preceding election day;
4.Able to read and write;
5.A bona fide member of the party-list or organization which he seeks to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding election day;.
6.At least twenty-five (25) years of age on the day of the election;7.One who belongs to the marginalized and underrepresented sector/s, the sectoral party, organization, political party or coalition he seeks to represent; and.
8.Able to contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole.